NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack softball team will open the 2012 season Friday when they begin play in the four-team Florida State Seminole Classic #1. SFA will take on Florida State (11:15 a.m.) and Tennessee Tech (3:30 p.m.) Friday, followed by a scheduled 10 a.m. game against Ole Miss on Saturday.

Friday and Saturday's games will determine the seeding for the duration of the round-robin format tournament.

SFA is coming off a 14-36 season in 2011. The Ladyjacks went 9-21 in Southland play to finish 10th in the conference.

The Ladyjacks return nine letterwinners overall, including senior outfielder Amber Price, who returns following a 2011 campaign in which she received accolades as an honorable mention All-Southland Conference selection. The Leander, Texas native started all 50 games for the Ladyjacks and batted .261 while leading the team with 12 doubles and 19 RBI's while playing center field.

Head coach Gay McNutt, entering her fifth season as head coach at SFA, will welcome seven newcomers to this year's squad, which includes four freshmen.

The Ladyjacks open the home portion of their schedule Feb. 15 in a doubleheader against future Southland Conference foe Houston Baptist.